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Advocacy Groups, Fishermen Applaud Defunding of Catch Shares Program
“It is an outrage that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – the federal agency tasked with conserving and managing our living marine resources – requested a whopping additional $36 million to fund programs that would further industrialize our seafood and put even more fishermen out of business," said Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch.
For Immediate Release: April 15, 2011
Advocacy Groups, Fishermen Applaud Defunding of Wasteful Catch Shares Program
Statement by Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch
Washington, DC – “Yesterday, in a victory for fishermen, Congress voted to defund a controversial fisheries management program that has been blocking access to fish for thousands of smaller scale fishermen, destroying their livelihoods and our coastal and fishing communities. This amendment, offered by Representative Walter Jones of North Carolina, is part of the FY2011 budget, which the president is expected to sign into law today.
“Unfortunately, this unfair program, known as catch shares, has already begun consolidating the fishing industry on every coast. It is shocking that, while the thousands lost their jobs in the worst recession in decades and the nation debated spending priorities, our government wasted millions to hand our fisheries over to mostly larger-scale, often corporate, industrialized fishing operations.”
“It is an outrage that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – the federal agency tasked with conserving and managing our living marine resources – requested a whopping additional $36 million to fund programs that would further industrialize our seafood and put even more fishermen out of business.”
“It is our hope that Congress will continue along this sensible path and commit to defunding catch shares in the future and not only in this budget. Our government should listen to the thousands of fishermen who are struggling to make ends meet or have already lost their jobs under this biased program and render it obsolete.”
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
"As much as anything, a budget document is also a policy statement. The clear message in the passage of the Jones Amendment is that the US House of Representatives, US Senate, and President have registered their disagreement with catch shares as a national policy." Carolyn A. Kirk, Mayor of Gloucester, MA
“Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) activists had spent the third week of February visiting the offices of federal legislators claiming erroneously to represent the interests of U.S. fishing communities while promoting their 'Catch Share' manifesto with Members of Congress in an effort to limit overall public access to coastal fisheries.” – Recreational Fishing Alliance
“This is a shot in the arm for fishermen and a shot across the bow of the National Marine Fisheries Service. The last thing our government should be doing in these economic times is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to expand programs that will put even more Americans out of work. NMFS would be wise to take heed of the opposition of fishermen, the public and the Congress to their catch shares agenda; we’re not going away.” – Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC)
Lauren Wright
Communications Manager
Food & Water Watch
1616 P Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
202 683-4929 (direct)
202 683-2501 (fax)
lwright [at] fwwatch.org
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org
Advocacy Groups, Fishermen Applaud Defunding of Wasteful Catch Shares Program
Statement by Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch
Washington, DC – “Yesterday, in a victory for fishermen, Congress voted to defund a controversial fisheries management program that has been blocking access to fish for thousands of smaller scale fishermen, destroying their livelihoods and our coastal and fishing communities. This amendment, offered by Representative Walter Jones of North Carolina, is part of the FY2011 budget, which the president is expected to sign into law today.
“Unfortunately, this unfair program, known as catch shares, has already begun consolidating the fishing industry on every coast. It is shocking that, while the thousands lost their jobs in the worst recession in decades and the nation debated spending priorities, our government wasted millions to hand our fisheries over to mostly larger-scale, often corporate, industrialized fishing operations.”
“It is an outrage that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – the federal agency tasked with conserving and managing our living marine resources – requested a whopping additional $36 million to fund programs that would further industrialize our seafood and put even more fishermen out of business.”
“It is our hope that Congress will continue along this sensible path and commit to defunding catch shares in the future and not only in this budget. Our government should listen to the thousands of fishermen who are struggling to make ends meet or have already lost their jobs under this biased program and render it obsolete.”
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
"As much as anything, a budget document is also a policy statement. The clear message in the passage of the Jones Amendment is that the US House of Representatives, US Senate, and President have registered their disagreement with catch shares as a national policy." Carolyn A. Kirk, Mayor of Gloucester, MA
“Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) activists had spent the third week of February visiting the offices of federal legislators claiming erroneously to represent the interests of U.S. fishing communities while promoting their 'Catch Share' manifesto with Members of Congress in an effort to limit overall public access to coastal fisheries.” – Recreational Fishing Alliance
“This is a shot in the arm for fishermen and a shot across the bow of the National Marine Fisheries Service. The last thing our government should be doing in these economic times is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to expand programs that will put even more Americans out of work. NMFS would be wise to take heed of the opposition of fishermen, the public and the Congress to their catch shares agenda; we’re not going away.” – Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC)
Lauren Wright
Communications Manager
Food & Water Watch
1616 P Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
202 683-4929 (direct)
202 683-2501 (fax)
lwright [at] fwwatch.org
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org
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Budget Deal Includes Anti-Fisherman Provision
Congress pulls cost-saving management choices for struggling fishermen in favor of special-interest backed policies proven to bankrupt fishermen, devastate fisheries
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Commercial fishing groups are dismayed about federal budget negotiations that have resulted in what fishermen are calling the "Anti-Fishermen Act." This act, formerly known as the Jones Amendment, prohibits approval of new catch share programs for U.S. fisheries under the jurisdiction of the South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, New England, or Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.
The Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance, the Gulf Fishermen’s Association and the South Atlantic Fishermen’s Association say that the Anti-Fisherman Act minimizes opportunities for fishermen and empowers Congress to make decisions better made regionally. The groups are working to ensure this language doesn't extend to the FY2012 budget.
Other fishing groups have opposed this measure too.
Catch shares are a fishery management system that has been shown to make fishing more efficient, profitable and sustainable. By taking catch shares off the table, Congress is forcing fishermen to accept traditional fishery management that has historically benefited few and left many fisheries depleted, which hurts fishing businesses and local communities.
"Federal money will still be spent on existing catch share programs,” said TJ Tate, Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance Executive Director, “The Anti-Fisherman Act will not save taxpayers any money, it just prevents money from being spent on new catch share programs. It could end up costing money in the long term because it will continue failed fishery management approaches.”
“The place to decide on catch shares is in the regional fishery management councils with local fisherman input,” said Tate. “The Gulf of Mexico red snapper catch share was approved by 87 percent of fishermen and the value of the fishery has risen by 86 percent in five years.”
"We're fighting to make sure the Anti-Fisherman Act goes away this year," said Glen Brooks, Gulf Fishermen's Association President. "If old rules stay in place, fisheries will continue to be closed and more foreign seafood will be imported."
"Congress is taking a proven management option off the table in favor of keeping fishermen tied to the dock," said Matt Ruby, South Atlantic Fishermen's Association President. "We need to be able to consider solutions that are proven for other fisheries in our own fishery."
There is significant evidence in the U.S. that catch shares work.
•The Gulf of Mexico commercial red snapper catch share implemented in 2007 has increased fishing time from 52 days to year-round and the value of the fishery has risen 86 percent.
•The Alaskan commercial halibut and sablefish catch share implemented in 1995 has increased fishing time from 2 days to 245 days and the price earned for fish has risen 12 percent.
•The New England groundfish sectors catch share program implemented in 2010 has increased overall revenue for fishermen by 10 percent in the first eight months, compared to the same period in 2009.
The Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholder's Alliance is a 501c(6) trade association representing IFQ fishermen and associated dealers who provide consumers year-round access to high-quality, responsibly-caught seafood year-round. http://www.shareholdersalliance.org
The Gulf Fishermen's Association is a Florida-based, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the fishing future for all fishermen. http://www.gulffishermen.org
The South Atlantic Fishermen's Association is made up of fishermen and seafood lovers from North Carolina to the Florida Keys who advocate for strong Southeast fishing communities that provide sustainably-caught local seafood year-round and pass the heritage on to future generations. http://www.southerncatch.com
CONTACT: Mark Thien, +1-615-400-4911, mthien [at] shareholdersalliance.org
SOURCE Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance
http://shareholdersalliance.org/
http://www.gulffishermen.org/
http://www.gulffishermen.org/
Congress pulls cost-saving management choices for struggling fishermen in favor of special-interest backed policies proven to bankrupt fishermen, devastate fisheries
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Commercial fishing groups are dismayed about federal budget negotiations that have resulted in what fishermen are calling the "Anti-Fishermen Act." This act, formerly known as the Jones Amendment, prohibits approval of new catch share programs for U.S. fisheries under the jurisdiction of the South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, New England, or Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.
The Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance, the Gulf Fishermen’s Association and the South Atlantic Fishermen’s Association say that the Anti-Fisherman Act minimizes opportunities for fishermen and empowers Congress to make decisions better made regionally. The groups are working to ensure this language doesn't extend to the FY2012 budget.
Other fishing groups have opposed this measure too.
Catch shares are a fishery management system that has been shown to make fishing more efficient, profitable and sustainable. By taking catch shares off the table, Congress is forcing fishermen to accept traditional fishery management that has historically benefited few and left many fisheries depleted, which hurts fishing businesses and local communities.
"Federal money will still be spent on existing catch share programs,” said TJ Tate, Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance Executive Director, “The Anti-Fisherman Act will not save taxpayers any money, it just prevents money from being spent on new catch share programs. It could end up costing money in the long term because it will continue failed fishery management approaches.”
“The place to decide on catch shares is in the regional fishery management councils with local fisherman input,” said Tate. “The Gulf of Mexico red snapper catch share was approved by 87 percent of fishermen and the value of the fishery has risen by 86 percent in five years.”
"We're fighting to make sure the Anti-Fisherman Act goes away this year," said Glen Brooks, Gulf Fishermen's Association President. "If old rules stay in place, fisheries will continue to be closed and more foreign seafood will be imported."
"Congress is taking a proven management option off the table in favor of keeping fishermen tied to the dock," said Matt Ruby, South Atlantic Fishermen's Association President. "We need to be able to consider solutions that are proven for other fisheries in our own fishery."
There is significant evidence in the U.S. that catch shares work.
•The Gulf of Mexico commercial red snapper catch share implemented in 2007 has increased fishing time from 52 days to year-round and the value of the fishery has risen 86 percent.
•The Alaskan commercial halibut and sablefish catch share implemented in 1995 has increased fishing time from 2 days to 245 days and the price earned for fish has risen 12 percent.
•The New England groundfish sectors catch share program implemented in 2010 has increased overall revenue for fishermen by 10 percent in the first eight months, compared to the same period in 2009.
The Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholder's Alliance is a 501c(6) trade association representing IFQ fishermen and associated dealers who provide consumers year-round access to high-quality, responsibly-caught seafood year-round. http://www.shareholdersalliance.org
The Gulf Fishermen's Association is a Florida-based, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the fishing future for all fishermen. http://www.gulffishermen.org
The South Atlantic Fishermen's Association is made up of fishermen and seafood lovers from North Carolina to the Florida Keys who advocate for strong Southeast fishing communities that provide sustainably-caught local seafood year-round and pass the heritage on to future generations. http://www.southerncatch.com
CONTACT: Mark Thien, +1-615-400-4911, mthien [at] shareholdersalliance.org
SOURCE Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance
http://shareholdersalliance.org/
http://www.gulffishermen.org/
http://www.gulffishermen.org/
For more information:
http://shareholdersalliance.org/
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